Testing machine for paint films



Nov. 10, 1942. w, H. McGovERN 2,301,733

TESTING MACHINE FOR PAINT FILMS Filed March 2, 1940 Patented Nov. 10, 1942 such eifaced indicia.

'Ihechief object of my invention is to provide fa 'machine 'ior testinspaint films, which can be eeoriornicall'y produced andwhich readily, easily and accurately performs its intended purpose. seeme of 'myinven'tion is to provide .a machine "which readilyj determines the degree of maturity of paint miss: Other objects of my invention will freadily perceived by reference to the following description of mylnvention,

"I'his" invention relates to a testing machine for paint'filmswhich comprises a plurality of weightedmembersadapted to mar to different degrees the surface of a paint film, and means for supporting the paintfilm in predetermined relationship to said members. More specifically, the invention relates to a machine for determining the degree of maturity of paintfilms which comprises a plurality of weighted members adapted to mar the surface of'a paint film to efface to different degrees indiciaplaced thereon, and means forv supportingfa paint film carrying such indicia in predetermined relationship to said members.

The attacheddrawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which- Figure 1' is a view in elevation of the testing such filmsis determined.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a frameconsisting of a base 2, opposed vertical uprights 3, adds motor platform 4 mounted on one was: the base 2. On the opposite end of the base 2 are placed opposed uprights for a purpose hereinafter described. Channel irons t extend Llongitudinally of the base 2 and form a track iorila'purpose hereinafter described. A plurality fo fflhorizontally"extending arms I are pivoted, on a, shaft (not shown) held between the vertical ilprights l. QAdJacent' or atxthe end of each arm flismounted 'a ftip member 8, which may b in the tomb; a ballapproximately /4" in diameter, r Jadapted toiengage the surface or a paint film. The degree of maturity of the so-called cominvention irelates to testing machines for paint;ffilm s anagramparticularly, to a machine f for Hetermini'ng {the maturity of paint films in 1m n pluralltyo'fmembers are adapted to be 91 9i 3 x um-ice etracing to different degrees t ereon andindicating the degree Mammary-sawmills film by comparison of ED STATES PATENT OFFICE j pas-mm moms FOB ranv'r ms 1 (H. McGovern, Lancaster, Pa assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 2, 1940, Serial No. 321,823

summit, (cue-s1) It will be understood the members 8 may be in the form of knife edges or cones or th like, if

desired, depending upon the degree of maturityof paint films to be tested or whether suchfilms are testedfor hardness, toughness, resistance to tensile forces, or the like. At the upper end of h the vertical uprights 3 are mounted horizontally of the pivoted arms 7. The weights i2 carry different loadsand thus exert greater or less forces extending channelirons 9 secured on opposite sides of the machine. The irons 9 support transversely extending spindles ID on which are mounted a plurality of freely rotatable pulleys II. Weights 12 are suspended from the pulleys ii in any desired manner, for example, by means of wires, ropes, or belts it which pass over the pulleys and are connected to the opposite ends weights i2 serve to hold one end of each of the pivoted arms 1 in raised position thus holding the opposite ends carrying the ball members 8 in lowered position in engagement with th surface of a paint film.

Between the uprights 5 and adjacent the ends of pivoted arms 1 is mounted a cam member l4 journaled in the uprights 5; a handle 15' is connected to one end of the cam member l4. Preferably, the cam member I 4 is so mounted that in its normal position it forces downwardly the the surface of a paint film the cam member I4 is rotated by moving the handle l5 upwardly thus releasing the pivoted arms 1 and permitting the weights H to exert their forces on the arms 'I.

A movable carriage l5 having wheels l1 travels on the track formed by the channel irons 6. A clamp I 8 is provided at one end of the carriage II and serves to hold a paint film carried by a suitable base in fixed positionon the carriage.

The carriage i6 is connected to a pulley l9 by means of a wire, rope or belt 20, the pulley l9 being mounted on a shaft 2! supported by a hanger 22 mounted on the motor platform 4, and carries on one end a bevel gear 23 adapted to mesh with a similar bevel gear 24 carried on the shaft 25 of a motor 28. i

paratively soft, dun coatlng pa ints ma be determined in the following manner. A paint film 21 carried by a suitable base is placed on the carriage II in such manner that its grain extends laterally of the machine. Indicia II, for example, parallel pencil lines, ten to thirteen in number, drawn with a medium soft graphite pencil,

- are drawn extending in a direction parallel to the direction of graining or, in other words, extending transversely of the carriage. The cam member I4 'is actuated to release the pivoted arms I thus permitting the ball members 8 toengage thesurfaceoi'thep tfilmfl. Themotor "is then actuated to draw the carriage i8 beneath the ball members I at a predetermined speed, for

' example, about 2%" of travel per minute. In

thismanner, a paint film to be tested is drawn beneath the ball members 8 which bear with vary economical device for determining the degree of maturity of paint films. The device may be used 7 to test comparatively soft, dull paint films or reling forces on the surface of the moving paint film 21 and which man or disfigure the film surface by forming grooves or furrows 29 therein thus eifacing to different degrees the indicia a drawn thereon. The degree of maturity of the paint film may be measured in terms of the weight or -load required to eiface at least 50% of such pencil In Figure 3, I have shown an en rged view of a paint film tested in the above anner. Indicia 28 extend laterally of the film 21 while furrows 29, designated at A, B, C, D, E, F, and G,

extend at right angles thereto. Weights of two to eight pounds were applied to thehall members 8 which formed the furrows A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, respectively: accordingly. the degree of maturity of the paint film 21 is approximately four and one-half pounds when compared with paint films similarly tested, since not quite 50% atively harder, glossy paint films with accurate results even by comparatively unskilled operators and provides an economical and ready means for vmeasuring the degree of maturity, toughness, hardness, or resistance to tensileforces of paint While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my. invention, it will be understood my invention is not so limited since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims,

' lowered position, a cam member mounted on said frame adjacent the ends of said arms serving to raise the ball members against the force of said weights, and means for supporting a paint film in predetermined relationship to said ball members.

2. In a testing m achin'e forqaain't films,"the combination of aframe, a plurality ofseparate, independen arms pivoted on said frame, ball memb rs mounted on the ends of said arms of. thepencil lines were effaced by the furrow C formed by the member 8' supporting a load of four pounds while more than50% of the lines were efi'aced by the furrow D formed by the ball member 8 supporting a load of five pounds. It

will be seen this is a simple, accurate test which can be readily performed to determine, within reasonably close dimensions, the comparative degree of maturity of paint film's.

It will be understood the test above described is not entirely satisfactory for determining the degree of maturity, hardness, toughness, or resistance to tensile forces of extremely hard or glossy paint films on which indicia 28, such as the pencil lines, cannot be satisfactorily placed. When it is desired to test extremely hard or glossy paint, films, the weights [2 may be changed to apply suitable forces to the members 8 and the degree of matlu-ity, hardness, toughness, resistance to tensile forces or the like is determined from a comparison of the furrows 29 formed in the paint film by themembers 8 and the loads required to form such furrows. The shape of the members 8 may be changed, if desired, to form anyother standardized type of 1 marks or ruptures, the degree of maturity, toughness, hardness or'resistance to tensile forces being determined'by the comparison of such marks with one another and the weights required to form such comparative marks.

' If desired, the motor 28 and mechanism connecting it to the carriage lt-may be eliminated and the carriage moved manually. I prefer,

however, that the carriage be driven at a predetermined speed since more accurate comparative results are obtainable in the testing of paint My invention provides a ready, accurate and adapted to mar to different degrees the surface of a paint film, a plurality of pulleys mounted on said frame, a plurality of weights suspended from said pulleys and connected to the opposite ends of said arms serving to hold said ball members in lowered position, a cam member mounted on said frame adjacent the ends of said arms serving to raise the ball members against the force of said weights, and means for supporting a paint film in predetermined relationship to said ball members.

3. In testing machine for paint films, the combination of a frame, a plurality of separate, in-

dependent arms pivoted on said frame, ball mem bers mounted adjacent the ends of said arms adapted to mar to different degrees the surface of a paint film, a plurality of weights connected to the opposite ends of said arms serving to hold a said ball members in film engaging position, a

' with the paint film'so as to mark to difierent degrees the surface of the paint film.

4. In a testing machine for paint films, the combination of a frame, a plurality of separate, independent armspivoted on the frame, ball members mounted adjacent the ends of said arms adapted to mar to different degrees the surface of a paint film, a plurality of weights connected to the opposite ends of said arms serving to hold said ball members in film engaging position, a cam member mounted on said frame adjacent the ends of said arms adapted to raise the ball members against the force of said weights, parallel members mounted on said frame forming a track for a movable carriage, a movable carriage adapted to travel on said track, said carriage serving to support a paint v film in predetermined relationship to said ball members, means for holding the paint film in fixed position on said carriage, andmeans for drawing said carriage on said track at a predetermined speed to move the paint film beneath said ball members. a

5. In atesting machine for paint films, the combination oi a frame, a plurality of separate,

independent arms pivoted on said frame, ballmembers mounted "adjacent the ends of said arms adapted to mar to diiferent degrees the surface of a paint film, a plurality of-pulleys mounted on said frame, a plurality of weights suspended from said pulleys and connected to the opposite ends of said arms serving to hold said ball members in lowered position, a cam member mounted on said frame adjacent the ends'of said arms adapted to raise the ball members against the force of said weights,'parallel members mounted on said frame forming a track for a movable carriage, a movable carriage adapted to travel on said track, said carriage serving to support a paint film in predetermined relationship to said ball members, means for holding said paint film in fixed position on said carriage, and a motor mounted on said frame 15 neath said ball members.

WALTER H. MCGOVERN. 

